The global spread of capitalism has made people wealthier than ever before. Then why is capitalism's future far from assured? Join HBS Professor Joseph L. Bower for an exciting discussion on the future of market capitalism.

The period from 2008 to the present has been fraught with many financial shocks: the global financial meltdown of 2008 nearly triggered another Great Depression, economies in Europe have entered into the Recession and are teetering, the gap of income inequality increases rapidly, resource depletion, and mass migrations from poor to rich countries are just some of the trends that pose serious threats to continued prosperity. How can the future of capitalism be secured and who should spearhead the effort?

Professor Bower will discuss his new book, Capitalism at Risk: Rethinking the Role of Business, and the exciting findings he and his co-authors have discovered. Whereas many are pointing to government to step in to save capitalism, Professor Bower argues otherwise. Based on three years of work, interviews, and discussions around the world with business leaders, he identifies ten potential disruptors of the global market system. Professor Bower will present examples of companies already making a difference and explain how business must serve both as innovator and activist--developing corporate strategies that effect change at the community, national, and international levels.

Joseph L. Bower, Baker Foundation Professor of Business Administration, has been a leader in general management at Harvard Business School for 45 years. The faculty chair of “The Corporate Leader,” until 2006 he served as the founding faculty chair of “The General Management Program,” both in Executive Education. An expert on corporate strategy, organization, and leadership, he has devoted much of his teaching and research to challenges confronting corporate leaders in today’s rapidly changing hyper-competitive conditions. Professor Bower has been active in the development of institutions and programs. Between 1968 and 1973 he helped establish the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis in Vienna, Austria. In 1978 he founded the Program for Senior Managers in Government at Harvard’s JFK School of Government, and in 1995 he founded the General Manager Program at Harvard Business School. Currently he is helping to build the new joint MBA-MPP degree program offered by the Business School and the Kennedy School of Government.

Professor Bower is the author of several ground breaking articles including: “Global Capitalism at Risk: What Are You Doing About It?" HBR , Sept 2011; "The Teaching of Strategy: From General Manager to Analyst and Back Again?" Journal of Management Inquiry, Dec. 2008; "Solve the Succession Crisis by Growing Inside-Outside Leaders" HBR, Nov 2007. He is also the author or coauthor of more than a dozen books. Just to name a couple of those most recently published: The CEO Within: Why Inside-Outsiders Are The Key To Succession Planning, published in November 2007; From Resource Allocation to Strategy (with C. Gilbert) published in 2005 and winner of the Best Book in 2006 award from "Strategy and Management."

Professor Bower has also consulted widely on problems of strategy and organization with companies here and abroad. He is a director of Anika Therapeutics, Inc., Loews Corporation, New America High Income Fund, and Sonesta International Hotels Corporation. He is a life trustee of the New England Conservatory of Music and trustee of the DeCordova and Dana Museum and Park.

Professor Bower is a graduate of Harvard University AB '59 magna cum laude, MBA '61 a Baker Scholar with high distinction, DBA '63.